The workmanship and construction of some of the pieces are just insanely beautiful, period. Wish he could have shown more looks from the collection but overall – what a great show… can you believe THAT just happened in Singapore?

Stay tuned for more updates on Asia Fashion Exchange 2012 happenings.

Liang Wang (Roderic) from China with “Tissue of Being”, Ko YoungJi from South Korea with “Li Jin” and Soravit Kaewkamon from Thailand with “Love and Friendship” – each won themselves SGD$10,000 in cash from Audi Singapore, an internship with leading fashion retailer F J Benjamin and the chance to launch a capsule collection at Star Creation 2013. Roderic Wong also won the Audi Young Fashion Designer Award, receiving an additional SGD$10,000 cash prize. Congratulations to all the winners!

Having watched the runway showdown on Monday 14th May at Tent@Orchard, I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for the six judges to make a decision. I particularly like all the ‘lighter’ collections – meaning the softer, whiter, less harsh designs. Roderic Wong’s ‘Tissue of Being’ (first picture) has that organic feel about the clothes that you just can’t take your eyes away. The fabrics looked like they have a life on its own, so precious, delicate and fragile, you will be amazed if you’ve seen it in motion!

Here are the rest of the highlights from the runway showdown:



Shoes from Malaysian finalist Vincent Wong’s “Confession of Sin”

Singapore topmodel in Malaysian finalist Ling Siu Gin’s first look of her “Manimal” collection

Kim Yong Woo, South Korean finalist – “The Existence of Space” – the execution was not very good but it was a stand-out.

One of my top pick from the competition – South Korean finalist’s Kim Soo-Jeong “The Coexistence of Embossed Carving and Intaglio” creations. I had a major goose bump moment looking at the 3D layers/pleats – and got really upset when she didn’t win!

First it’s my obsession over Wonder Anatomie, and now it’s Greyhound‘s quirky easy pieces that I am going gaga over. I found this top from Greyhound at the Front Row store that has all the focus on the sleeves which are in laser cut houndstooth pattern.

I never liked anything houndstooth but this is an exception!

[In this look: top from Greyhound, skirt from Bangkok flea marker, shoes - Topshop]

I will be giving out tickets to selective shows at Audi Fashion Festival (scroll to bottom) and even if you don’t have tickets to the shows, here are the places to go if you want to be part of all the action:


AFX NOW! Fashion Debate: Fashion’s Digital Media Revolution

Watching a live debate is exciting, especially when you have the fashion world’s movers and shakers in one room (in the Tent@Orchard actually).

Colin McDowell, legendary fashion commentator and creative director of the Audi Fashion Festival will chair the session, focused on Fashion’s Digital Media Revolution.

The panelists include Tallulah Harlech, Model-actress & Vogue.com contributor, Sasha Wilkins aka LibertyLondonGirl, Daniel Saynt of Rebecca Minkoff and Sarah Curran, Founder & CEO of mywardrobe.com.

This debate will be taking place on 17th of May at Tent@Orchard at 4PM. RSVP to info@afx.com.sg for a seat!

After-parties

If your idea of a ‘fashion week’ is having a lot of fun at the after-parties, this year’s line-up will definitely not disappoint you – The Misshapes, Timo Weiland himself spinning and HeartsRevolution will be part of the schedule. Although the bigger after-parties are by invite only, there are a few good ones that are open to public.

Click here for more details, and plan your nights now!



Canon Blogger Workshop

This one’s for all budding bloggers/photo journalists – international celebrity photographer Russell James will be a guest speaker at the Canon Blogger Workshop on 19th May at ION Orchard and I will be part of this event too together with fellow blogger Sarah from Wottoncool.

It’s a one-of-a-kind workshop where you get to pick up tips and skills from some of the best known industry professionals and also watch live demos.

RSVP to sarah@mercurymc.com for a seat and see you there!



Blueprint Emporium 2012

Do I need to say more? This is THE ultimate shopping event to go in a year! If you are an emerging designer enthusiasts and supports all things new and talented, at Emporium is where you get to discover all the cool brands and even mingle with the designers who have flown in from all over the world – Paris, Japan, Australian, Berlin and more. Click here to see all the promotions and giveaways. So mark your calendar down now! 19 & 20 May next weekend at Suntec Convention Centre level 2.

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I am giving away 2 sets of Audi Fashion Festival 2012 show tickets to 2 winners. One of you will receive one pair of MUGLER A/W 2012 and one pair of Future Fashion Now featuring Mae Pang, Max Tan and Dzojchen. The other one will receive Roland Mouret A/W 2012 and one pair of Future Fashion Now featuring Timo Weiland, Yeojin Bae and Esther Perbandt.

Simply email giveaway@rockthetrend.com with the subject title “RTT AFF2012 ticket giveaway” with your name, email and address and I will be selecting two winners on Monday.

Vogue ITALIA

Linda Evangelista might be in an ugly court case now with her son’s father, but don’t you love how she still remains so beautiful, commanding major solo covers at 46? Steven Meisel’s cover girl pick for this month is spot on…

Vogue PARIS

Last month’s Spanish Vogue cover girl French model/actress Laetitia Casta is now back on Vogue Paris cover, her fourth one!

Vogue US

The avengers heroine Scarlett Johansson photographed by Mario Testino for Vogue US. The photoshop on her cleavage is pretty distracting…

Vogue UK

Hollywood golden babe Charlize Theron in Versace photographed by Patrick Demarchelier.

Vogue ESPANA

Lily Donaldson by Alexi Lubomirski

Vogue GERMANY

Also posing on the beach – Guinevere van Seenus in Dolce & Gabbana photographed by Knoepfel & Indlekofer.

Vogue RUSSIA

After many months of Hedi Slimane shooting the Vogue Russia cover, Maryna Linchuk is the cover girl this month in Louis Vuitton lensed by Mariano Vivanco. Imagine how many times will the dolly Vuitton frocks appear in the summer magazine covers?

Vogue CHINA

Arizona Muse showing off her famous smile on the cover of Vogue China in Lanvin, shot by Josh Olins. The color combination of this shot is simply lovely!

Vogue JAPAN

Natasha Poly in guess what! Louis Vuitton S/S 2012 shot by Daniele & Iango.

Vogue KOREA

Boyish Dutch model Saskia de Brauw appearing all soft and feminine (by Paolo Roversi, duh!) for Vogue Korea this month.

Vogue TAIWAN

Taiwanese singer Vivien Hsu… cover’s not bad for Vogue Taiwan!

Vogue INDIA

Chitrangada Singh

Vogue TURKEY

Aline Weber by David Vasiljevic

Vogue AUSTRALIA

You rarely see a black model on Vogue Australia’s cover but here’s Joan Smalls! Whose last solo Vogue Cover appearance was Vogue Italia in March. Global appeal indeed, this girl’s pure gold.

Vogue GREECE

Valerie van der Graaf by Mara Desipris

Vogue NETHERLANDS

Finally Lara Stone! Even though she’s not on the cover of the First issue of Vogue Netherlands, she made it for the second. Both she and Doutzen Kroes are definitely the most recognizable working international models from Netherlands right now. Imagine what if the two of them are on the cover…

Numero FRANCE

Zuzanna Bijoch by Sebastian Kim

Numero JAPAN

Lindsey Wixson by Eric Guillemain

Numero CHINA

This one looks gangster bad-ass! Numero China #18 May features Huang Xiao Meng shot by Yin Chao. Love how Numero China comes up with different cover styles every month.

W Magazine

Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman.

INTERVIEW magazine

Jack White by Craig McDean. Interview Magazine covers never disappoints, no?

DAZED & CONFUSED

Super cool cover shot (what’s new!) from Dazed featuring performance artist Theo-Mass Lexileictous by Walter Pfeiffer.

[images: thefashionspot.com scans, models.com, vogue sites, wmagazine.com]

For a new brand, MILS has this bit of edge that made it effortlessly stands out from the rest. Good tailoring is always a plus, and there’s the interesting touch of feminine silhouettes in menswear that’s not exactly common… the jumpsuit, the ‘skirt’, but it’s well-balanced enough to still remain relatively masculine. I love that shade of sea foam greenish grey in the collection as well.

Intrigued? You can find MILS at Parco next NEXT (Parco Millennia Level 2) and Blueprint Emporium (19 & 20 May at Suntec Convention Centre).

While the runways have already moved on to conjuring up visions for Autumn/Winter 2012/13, in the real world, the calendar is just tentatively welcoming Spring. (We might be in Singapore – but with a little air-conditioning and imagination, anything’s possible!) And what is Spring without its cliches of flowers in bloom, lovers on the street, and – most importantly, the clothes! Pastels are to Spring as black is to Kate Lanphear – Undoubtedly expected, but if done well, always refreshing and stylish.

Spring’s colour du jour is, no doubt, mint. Whether you choose to colour-block from top to toe or take a more subtle approach via accessorising, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of our inspirations:

[Images: shefinds, fashion magazine, hypebeast , style.com, trend for the masses]

Just by simply seeing collection up close and feeling the fabrics you are in danger of going for it (means getting your hands on one of the looks) because they are THAT gorgeous. The fishnet print is of course, the highlight of the collection and the most recognizable, the yellow top with the thick frilly helm is another top pick too. The prices for the items are slightly higher compared to buying online – SGD$1240+ for a long maxi fishnet print dress in white and blue – but I guess the catch is that you get to try it on!

So yes, check out the collection before it’s too late!

Maybe this is what happens when you watched too much Sci-Fi films.

I had an ALIEN marathon last weekend plus Sunshine by Danny Boyle last night, and somehow I pull all the digital printed pieces out from my wardrobe this morning.

Max Tan cardigan, Gareth Pugh X Melissa sandals etc.

Speaking about the sandals it’s my very first pair of rubber shoes I have ever bought, but it’s pretty alright so far, great for the super wet, rainy weather right here and who would have thought Gareth Pugh would have a shoe collab!

[In this look: Liquid by Max Tan cardigan, top from ZARA, shoes from Gareth Pugh X Melissa (via Revolve CLothing), bag from Kipling]

Last Friday, Future Fashion Now, an upcoming cutting-edge online shopping portal that lets you shop like a buyer straight off the runway, held a private preview session of the Fall/Winter 12/13 collection at the Reebonz show space. After getting a sneak preview of the collection, I caught up with Tina Tan-Leo, founder and president of The Link Group and alldressedup, for a quick five minute interview, here it is!


RTT: Do you have a few words to describe the Fall/Winter 12/13 collection?

TTL: Structured but relaxed, versatile, subdued yet not dull

RTT: Any plans for a lower priced line?

TTL: I would say maybe in the near future but at the moment we are very careful with the price points for the main collection because we really want to target and reach out to the women who understands that we bring quality details good workmanship at a very decent price point. The price point starts from S$150 to S$600. I feel that working women, to buy a piece of alldressedup is nice because it last. It’s not about throw away fashion, it’s about lasting and mixing and matching, you can actually add that into your wardrobe and wear it all the time.

RTT: How about a menswear line?

TTL: In the near future we may think of that, it’s in the pipeline. Currently, we are really focused on our womenswear and fashion accessories

RTT: How’s the brand adapting to the digital age?

TTL: I think it’s fantastic, for us we are really embracing e-commerce and we also have our own sites to service our customers regionally and internationally. We are also working different sites to get the brand exposed global wise. So I think it’s very important that the brand is more accessible to all the younger generation and be more online savvy.

RTT: Do you have a fashion philosophy

TTL: Back then many years ago it’s very different because people have the time. Now people are so mobile, traveling. Always have no time, always working, with the family kids and all that. People have no time to put their wardrobe together. You need to have pieces that works from day to night so I think that’s what we are offering.

RTT: What are your thoughts on Future Fashion Now?

TTL: I think it’s fantastic, it’s an opportunity for alldressedup to be seen and heard really really globally even in cities or countries that we have not tapped on so this is a great opportunity that people fro those countries will hear about the brand. So it’s a real honour to be part of it.